Tasmania to wipe criminal records under new legislation

Criminal records for gay and transgender Tasmanians will be erased from records after landmark legislation passed the Upper House.

The Legislative Council unanimously agreed to the State Government's amended Expungement of Historical Offences Bill yesterday.

The new legislation, first introduced in April, allows a person charged with a historical homosexual or cross-dressing offence to apply to have the charge or conviction removed from their criminal record.

The Upper House approved the Bill following a series of amendments to streamline procedures related to applications, the treatment of sensitive data and the decision-making process.

There will be a review clause to ensure the legislation meets the need of Tasmanians with gay or transgender criminal records.

Tasmanian LGBTI equality advocate Rodney Croome said gay and transgender Tasmanians convicted under former laws would no longer have to endure the disadvantage of having a criminal record.